PS4 LAN Cable Not Connected [Causes and Fixes]

Isn’t it just plain unbelievable that even when your LAN cable is connected, your PS4 console says it isn’t? Before you blow your top and lose your cool, know this is a common issue that has been remedied with proven hacks. 

In this post, we’re showing you the nuts and bolts of five of the most common causes and solutions of the “LAN cable not connected” error on the PS4, so we urge you to read up. 

Why causes the “LAN cable not connected” issue on PS4?

Of late, there are five common reasons that cause the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error message to appear. Learning more about these underlying causes will allow you to troubleshoot the issue better. 

1. Problematic PS4 and WiFi Router

PS4s and WiFi routers, like any electronic device, will often experience minor bug issues during use, considered a common occurrence. These software errors tend to occur when using your devices for a prolonged period without any breaks.

While in use, your PS4 console and WiFi router’s system memories will accumulate temporary data, which can cause various issues. 

Worse, electronic devices also store electrical charges when connected to a power source, which also causes various issues to occur.

If you’ve been using both devices for a while, that might explain why you’re getting the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error on your PS4 console.

2. Damaged LAN Cable

Using a damaged LAN cable is also a common reason that the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error will appear during your online playthrough. After all, the console will fail to recognize a faulty and damaged LAN cable even when connected.

The damage to the LAN cable might be due to a cut on its wires or a broken connector lock, causing it not to plug in properly. Whatever damage your LAN cable has, it has to be addressed by performing a repair or getting a replacement.

3. Dirty LAN Port

Aside from the LAN cable, the port you’re plugging it into might also be damaged or dirty. Dust buildup is usual with LAN ports and can block the data transmission from a connected cable, which makes it unrecognizable to your PS4 console.

Humidity and moisture can also cause the contact pins inside the LAN port to develop rust, which will also block data transmission. Please note that the same thing can happen to the LAN ports on your WiFi router.

4. Network Settings Configuration

The configuration of your PS4 console’s network settings is another common cause of the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error. Even with a working LAN cable and clean LAN port, your console may think otherwise due to a terrible configuration.

If you don’t have a habit of changing the network configuration of your PS4 console, everything should be in their default settings. The default values will work, but sometimes manually setting them up will provide you with a better connection.

5. Corrupt PS4 Data Files

Corrupt data can fester in your PS4 console’s storage over time, and there isn’t a reliable way to prevent this from happening. Having corrupt data on your PS4 can cause various system errors, which causes the console to malfunction.

The “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error is one of the things that can happen if your console has corrupt data. Unless you remove the corrupt data from your PS4 console, the issues it’s causing will continue to happen repeatedly.

How to Fix the “LAN Cable Not Connected to PS4” Issue

The fix for the “LAN Cable Not Connected to PS4” issue will depend on its root cause. As such, we’ve prepared the top five troubleshooting solutions for fixing the common causes of the PS4 console’s LAN cable problem stipulated above. 

FIX 1. Power cycle your PS4 and WiFi router

Performing a power cycle is a quick and straightforward solution for a PS4 console and WiFi router malfunctioning due to minor errors. With this, your PS4 console can shut down its apps and programs, allowing it to refresh its system memory.

You can expect the power cycle to have a similar effect on your WiFi router. While it doesn’t have apps or programs running in its background, power cycling should still shut down and reset the WiFi router, correcting minor errors and bugs in the process.

However, the most important thing the power cycle will do to your PS4 console and WiFi router is drain their residual electrical charges. After all, we’ve discussed earlier how likely it can be the root cause of the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error.

It’s the biggest reason we highly recommend power cycling your PS4 console and WiFi router simultaneously. Once you’ve drained the residual electrical charges on both devices, you can retry plugging in the LAN cable to see if it can be detected.

Use your PS4 console’s power button to power cycle it

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	5
Time to Perform Fix	1 minute and 20 seconds
Things Needed	A working PS4 power buttonWorking power and LAN cablesA working power outlet

Step 1: Press and hold the PS4’s power button for about 10 seconds or until you hear 2 beep sounds.

Step 2: Wait for 2 seconds or until the console’s light bar turns off.

Step 3: Unplug your PS4 console’s power and LAN cables.

Step 4: Leave the PS4 console unplugged for 60 seconds before plugging its power and LAN cables back in.

Step 5: Press the PS4’s power button once to turn it back on.

Unplug your WiFi router from the wall outlet to power cycle it

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	3
Time to Perform Fix	1 minute and 10 seconds
Things Needed	Working power and LAN cablesA working power outletA working WiFi router power button

Step 1: Unplug the power and LAN cables of your WiFi router.

Step 2: Leave your WiFi router unplugged for 60 seconds as well before plugging the power and LAN cables back in.

Step 3: Press the power button on your WiFi router if it has one to turn it on. Note: WiFi routers without a power button will automatically turn back on.

FIX 2. Inspect or clean the LAN cable and port

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	1
Time to Perform Fix	30 to 60 seconds
Things Needed	A cotton swabA can of compressed airA replacement LAN cable

Getting the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error is just one way of telling if you have an issue involving a faulty cable and port. The best way that you can ascertain this is by performing an inspection to check for signs of damage on the LAN cable and port.

Wear and tear are some of the most common examples of visible cable damage that we suggest you look for. Extreme cases will mean that data can no longer be transmitted from your WiFi router to your PS4 console through the LAN cable.

Another thing you have to look for in your LAN cable is the possibility of a broken connector pin. The most common thing that can be damaged in the LAN cable’s connector pin is the locking mechanism, resulting in problems when plugging it in.

When it comes to the LAN ports on your PS4 console and WiFi router, the first thing to look for is dust buildup. You wouldn’t be wrong to refer to these LAN ports as dust bins with how easily they can accumulate there over time.

That’s why we recommend cleaning the LAN ports on your consoler and WiFi router to remove any dust buildup that’s blocking the data transmission. You insert a cotton swab or blow compressed air inside the LAN port to clean it thoroughly.

Aside from dust buildup, you need to check the LAN port for signs of damage as well. Cleaning a device’s LAN port will do nothing to resolve the problem if its contact pins are rusty and broken beyond repair.

To deal with a damaged LAN cable, the easiest solution is to get a replacement if you’re not confident about repairing it yourself. With a problematic LAN port, it’s easier as you only need to switch to another available one.

If you’re willing to repair your broken LAN cable, you can follow the instructions below to learn how. Unfortunately, the replacement process for a broken PS4 LAN port is very difficult to perform so it’s best to find a repair shop that can do it for you. 

Use electrical tape to reconnect the cable after cutting off its torn part

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	2 minutes
Things Needed	A pair of scissorsAn electrical tapeA pair of pliers

Step 1: Use a pair of scissors to cut away the torn portion of your LAN cable so you have two ends that can be reconnected.

Step 2: Peel off the rubber coating to reveal the wires on both ends that were cut off.

Step 3: Peel off the colored coatings as well to reveal the copper wires.

Step 4: Match the ends of the copper wire according to their colors.

Step 5: Twist the ends against each other to bind them together.

Step 6: Use electrical tape to cover and secure the connected ends to the LAN cable. Note: Don’t let the ends touch each other when taping them up to prevent a short circuit. Cover each end with a layer of electrical tape to separate them.

Use a zip tie as a lock for your LAN cable’s connector

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	3
Time to Perform Fix	20 seconds
Things Needed	A cutterA zip tie

Step 1: Cut the zip tie into a small length.

Step 2: Trim the head of the zip tie to make flatten it a bit. Note: This will help it fit into the LAN port alongside the cable.

Step 3: Hold the trimmed zip tie and the cable connector together and plug them into the LAN port of your WiFi router or PS4 console.

FIX 3. Plug the LAN cable only halfway through

Difficulty	Very Easy ●○○○○
Number of Steps	1
Time to Perform Fix	10 seconds
Things Needed	A working LAN cable

Believe it or not, there’s a simple remedy you can try if you have a broken LAN port on your PS4 console or WiFi router. Do this by plugging the LAN cable halfway through the port, which is before you would hear the clicking sound when it locks in.

It seems like a bizarre solution if you think about it but it works and it also does its job very well. Plus, this solution is quick and easy to execute so you shouldn’t have any trouble performing it on your PS4 console or WiFi router.

This solution is a good alternative if there’s no working LAN port on your WiFi router to switch into or if you don’t want to replace the broken one on your PS4. The only downside to this method is that it only works as a temporary fix or remedy.

If you want a permanent solution, replacing your PS4 console or WiFi router’s faulty LAN ports is the only way to go. After all, the success of this method is dependent on the LAN port’s ability to transmit data even when it already has damage.

FIX 4. Configure your PS4’s network settings

Sometimes, troubleshooting the physical connection of your console and WiFi router isn’t enough to fix the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” issue. As such, we also suggest that you look into your PS4’s current network settings configuration.

Even with a working LAN cable or port, the connection issue itself could stem from the console’s terrible network settings. In such cases, the only solution would be to change or adjust the values that are set on your PS4’s wired network settings.

This involves changing the DNS server on the network configuration or setting up a static IP address to help improve the console’s network status. If you haven’t messed with your console’s network settings, the values should be set to default.

Thus, what we think you should do is manually enter a custom DNS server and static IP address that works best in your area. Doing so should increase the speed of your PS4 console’s internet connection and fix the connection problem at hand.

Use a public DNS server on your PS4 console’s network settings

Difficulty	Easy ●●○○○
Number of Steps	13
Time to Perform Fix	60 seconds
Things Needed	A PS4 controllerA working LAN cableA working internet connection

Step 1: Scroll up your PS4’s home screen to open its control panel and scroll right to open Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down and open your PS4’s Network menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and go to the Set Up Internet Connection option.

Step 4: Select the Use a LAN Cable option to reconfigure your wired network connection.

Step 5: Select Custom to proceed.

Step 6: Select Automatic under the IP Address Settings.

Step 7: Select Do Not Specify under the DHCP Host Name. Step 7: Select Do Not Specify under the DHCP Host Name.

Step 8: Select Manual to change the PS4’s DNS settings.

Step 9: Select Primary DNS to enter your preferred public DNS server. Note: The best DNS servers to use are CloudFlare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9). We suggest trying each one to find out which works best for you.

Step 10: Click Next to continue to the next page.

Step 11: Select Automatic under the MTU Settings.

Step 12: Select Do Not Use for the Proxy Server.

Step 13: Click Test Internet Connection to check if the connection is working.

Use a static IP address on your PS4 console’s network settings

Difficulty	Easy ●●○○○
Number of Steps	13
Time to Perform Fix	60 seconds
Things Needed	A working LAN cableA working internet connection

Step 1: Scroll up your PS4’s home screen to open its control panel and scroll right to open Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down and open your PS4’s Network menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and select View Connection Status.

Step 4: Write down your network’s IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway.

Step 5: Return to the network menu and select Set Up Internet Connection.

Step 6: Select the Use a LAN Cable option to reconfigure your wired network connection.

Step 7: Select Custom to proceed.

Step 8: Select Manual under the IP Address Settings.

Step 9: Enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway you wrote down earlier on their respective fields. Note: Everything should be copied except for the last digit of the IP Address. You must change it to any value between 2 and 255.

Step 10: Click Next to continue to the next page.

Step 11: Select Automatic under the MTU Settings.

Step 12: Select Do Not Use for the Proxy Server.

Step 13: Click Test Internet Connection to check if the connection is working.

FIX 5. Rebuild your console’s database

Difficulty	Easy ●●○○○
Number of Steps	6
Time to Perform Fix	10 to 30 minutes
Things Needed	A PS4 controllerA Micro USB to USB Type-A cable

If you’re dealing with corrupt PS4 system files and temporary data, your best recourse is to rebuild the console’s database. Doing so will help fix the “PS4 LAN cable not connected” error by deleting all corrupt data files on your console.

During the database rebuild process, your PS4 console will scan its storage and drives to pinpoint and eliminate any corrupt files that exist. As such, the duration of the rebuild will depend on the amount of data stored inside your PS4 console.

The good thing is that you won’t have to worry about losing your important files, apps, and games during the rebuild. After all, your PS4 console is designed to only target corrupt files and temporary data when it’s rebuilding its database.

Step 1: Plug a USB cable into your PS4 console and controller.

Step 2: Press and hold your PS4’s power button for 10 seconds or until you hear 2 beep sounds.

Step 3: Press the PS button on the controller to enter the console’s Safe Mode. Note: If pressing the PS button doesn’t work, you can try switching to a different USB cable or controller that works.

Step 4: Scroll down and select option 5. Rebuild Database.

Step 5: Select OK to begin rebuilding the console’s database. Note: The rebuild might take several minutes to complete even if the console says that it takes a few hours.

Step 6: Wait for your console to rebuild its database.

---